Hail guards
A cage for the outdoor unit
The coil on an outdoor unit is thin aluminum fins. Hail bends them. A guard puts a layer between the stones and the coil.
Guards are an option, not a requirement. Some customers add one at install, some add one after the first hailstorm, and some decide the unit is cheaper to replace than to cage. All three are reasonable. We tell you what each takes in time and clearance, and put the one you choose in the quote.
The options
Three ways to guard the coil
Louvered panels
Panels that cover the coil on the sides of the unit. Some makers sell them for their own models.
Made to fit the unit
Good for hail blowing in sideways
Check that the manual allows them
Wire or mesh cage
A frame with mesh around the sides, and sometimes the top. Fits many makes.
Wider choice of sizes
Mesh opening matters for airflow
Has to come off for service
Built-to-fit frame
A custom frame in sheet metal and mesh for a unit that stock guards don't fit.
Made for odd sizes or a tight spot
Longer lead time
Needs the unit measured first
Be clear-eyed
What a guard does and does not do
A guard can
Shield the coil from the common storm.
Keep small and medium hail off the coil fins
Slow down hail that would otherwise hit the coil directly
Give you a reason to inspect the coil after a storm
A guard cannot
Make a unit hail-proof.
Stop large hail from denting the cabinet
Replace the checking you do after a storm
Change what your insurer will or won't cover
Questions
Before you add one
Will a guard affect my unit's warranty?
It can if it blocks the clearance the maker requires. We check the installation manual for your unit and note the clearance in the quote. Warranty terms come from the maker and are written in your paperwork.
Will a guard cut airflow?
A tight mesh or a guard set too close can. We choose an opening and a distance that leave the air moving, and we check the unit at start-up.
Can you add a guard to the unit I already have?
Usually. We measure the unit, check the clearance and tell you which of the three types fits.
What should I do after a hailstorm?
Switch the unit off at the disconnect and look at the coil from a distance. If the fins are bent or the cabinet is dented, call before you run it again.
Does my insurer care about a guard?
Policies differ, and we can't say how yours treats one. Ask your insurer, and ask what documentation they want after a storm.
Want a guard on the quote?
Tell us the make of the unit, or text a photo of its label, and we will say which type fits.